H.R.ANo.A625

RESOLUTION

1 WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of

2 Wilhelmina Daisy Cullen Robertson Smith of , who died on

3 January 26, 2009, at the age of 86; and

4 WHEREAS, The former Wilhelmina Cullen was the daughter of

5 Hugh Roy Cullen and Lillie Cranz Cullen; she attended Sweet Briar

6 College in Virginia during World War II, but she returned to

7 and earned a bachelor ’s degree from the in

8 1944; the following year, she married Corbin James Robertson, Sr.,

9 who was serving in the Army Air Corps at Ellington Field; the couple

10 nurtured a fulfilling relationship until Mr. Robertson ’s passing in

11 1991; fortunate to find love a second time, she was joined in

12 matrimony to Edgar A. Smith, Jr., in 1998; and

13 WHEREAS, An active philanthropist, Mrs. Smith helped launch

14 the magnet program in Houston ’s public schools, and she led her

15 family ’s organization, the Cullen Foundation, for five decades,

16 through which she assisted numerous local institutions, including

17 Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Medical Center; she also

18 established three trusts to benefit higher education, health, and

19 the performing arts; and

20 WHEREAS, Mrs. Smith was especially devoted to the University

21 of Houston, and she was one of her alma mater ’s most dedicated

22 supporters; her parents also have a place in UH history, as they are

23 regarded as its founding family and the school ’s first major

24 benefactors; through the years, Mrs. Smith continued her parents ’

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1 legacy, and she shared this commitment with her first husband, who

2 supported the university ’s early athletic programs and for whom

3 Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is named; a life member of the UH Alumni

4 Organization, Mrs. Smith was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in

5 1988 and a Distinguished Alumni award in 1989; moreover, the UH

6 Board of Regents approved the construction of the Wilhelmina

7 Robertson Smith Pavilion, a sports complex to be built at Robertson

8 Stadium; and

9 WHEREAS, Dedicated to her community, Wilhelmina Smith was an

10 inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to know her, and she

11 leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of generosity and goodwill

12 that will not soon be forgotten; now, therefore, be it

13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas

14 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Wilhelmina Daisy

15 Cullen Robertson Smith and extend sincere sympathy to the members

16 of her family: to her husband, Edgar A. Smith, Jr.; to her children,

17 Wilhelmina Elizabeth "Beth" Robertson, Corbin J. Robertson, Jr.,

18 Lillie Therese Robertson, Carroll Christine Robertson Ray, and

19 Alison Susan Robertson Baumann; and to her other relatives and

20 friends; and, be it further

21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

22 prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of

23 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Wilhelmina

24 Smith.

Woolley Cohen

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Speaker of the HouseAAAAA

I certify that H.R. No. 625 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on March 5, 2009.

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Chief Clerk of the HouseAAA

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